It’s about time I update this blog. It’s been a while.
I’ve settled into the swing of things. My schedule is not too hectic and I have a lot of down time during the day to plan my lessons and work on Japanese. I teach waku waku (5-6 years old) 9 times a week, mothers’ classes 3 times a week, 1st graders once a week, as well as two once monthly waku wakus.
M: 1 Waku Waku
T: 2 WWs, Mothers, 1st Grader
W: 2 WWs
Th: 2 WWs + 2 once-monthly WWs
F: 2 WWs, 2 Mothers
Pretty light schedule overall, so I can’t complain too much. The classes are fun and so far not very exhausting yet. I’m still finding it hard to develop a rapport with the other teachers, given my terrible Japanese and their non-existent English. It’s definitely an interesting culture here at the kindergartens, and I haven’t quite been able to figure it out yet. There are several layers of bureaucracies to navigate first of all, and second of all, it seems that the Japanese teachers themselves are not particularly close personally either. It seems all business out here in Chiba and you don’t chit-chat unless it’s something professionally important.\
In other news, I’m going to take the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) Level 2 (2nd most difficult) next July. So wish me luck.
On the personal side of things, I’ve been going into Tokyo every weekend (since I’ve had Mondays off for the past three weeks). I’m catching up with a few old friends and meeting new ones so it’s been fun. I went to my first Japanese baseball game and it was quite something. Much much more exciting than an American game for sure. I’m also scoping out new opportunities for next year – hopefully something good will come up.
In all, all is good in Japan. Enjoying the good life while yall suckers are stuck in cubicles hahaha J
